Moeder met kind en vrouw 1819 - 1881

Johannes Tavenraat rendered this ink drawing, "Moeder met kind en vrouw," capturing a domestic scene seemingly devoid of artifice. Central to this work is the archetypal motif of the mother and child, an image resonating across millennia. This pairing evokes not only tenderness but also a primal connection—a biological imperative mirrored in countless artistic traditions. Think of the Madonna and Child in Christian art, where the maternal embrace signifies divine love and protection, or consider similar motifs in ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis and Horus. Yet, here, Tavenraat strips away overt religious symbolism, presenting a more secular, intimate vision. The emotional power of the mother's embrace speaks to a universal human experience, tapping into our collective memory and the psychological bedrock of nurturing and security. This cyclical return to foundational images underscores how deeply ingrained these motifs are within the human psyche.